The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has acknowledged a total 850 sites as world cultural heritages, 11 of which are located in Indonesia.

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, in a prepared address read out by the ministry’s Director General of Art, Cultural and Film Values, Ukus Kuswara, said that the Indonesian world cultural heritages acknowledged by UNESCO included:

Batik

Wayang (shadow puppets)

Angklung and the prehistoric human site Sangiran.

Some 689 cultural heritages out of the total 850 are on cultural aspects and 176 on natural aspects. Wacik says that there are no problems with batik because the youth and older generations have already worn them but for the traditional dagger Keris, only the older generations of Indonesians who use them as additional ornaments for traditional customs.

The preservation of Keris as a cultural heritage, the minister adds, is not an easy task to do and becomes a certain challenge because the younger generation has not found it to their liking.

The Governor of Central Java, Bibit Waluyo said in the congress of Keris arts that Keris had initially been a weapon for self defense but now the function has departed from just being a weapon.

Keris has becomes a symbol of social status and cultural relics of high value and as well as souvenirs that can fetch financial gains for Keris makers. The congress on Keris held from 19-22 April will elect new line of the national association personnel and to formulate a work program.